اکیسویں صدی کے پاکستانی اُردو ناول کا مطالعہ : ماحولیاتی تنقید کے تناظر میں

A Study of 21st Century Pakistani Novels in the Context of Ecocriticism

Abstract

This study examines the integration of ecocriticism within 21st-century Pakistani Urdu novels, highlighting how contemporary authors reflect environmental concerns and cultural relationships with nature. Ecocriticism, a relatively recent addition to Urdu literature, explores themes of human-centeredness, ecofeminism, environmental justice, and ecological imperialism. Authors such as Amna Mufti, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Ali Akbar Natiq, and Jamila Hashmi enrich their narratives by addressing ecological issues through vivid portrayals of landscapes, rural and wilderness settings, and characters' complex relationships with the environment. These authors underscore the aesthetic, ethical, and survival importance of nature, advocating for harmonious coexistence. Furthermore, the novels reflect the cultural and social complexities of environmental exploitation and the power dynamics associated with natural resources, with critiques of anthropocentric worldviews. Through this ecocritical lens, the research underscores the role of Urdu literature in raising ecological awareness, calling for responsible stewardship of nature, and broadening the scope of literary studies to address pressing environmental issues. This study contributes to the growing body of ecocritical scholarship in Pakistani literature, fostering a deeper understanding of environmental consciousness in Urdu narratives.